Triumphal arch would be 250ft tall, featuring a 60ft golden Lady Liberty, at the foot of Arlington Memorial Bridge
The Trump administration on Friday released new renderings of the triumphal arch the president wants to install in Memorial Circle at the foot of the Arlington Memorial Bridge.
As part of Donald Trump’s legacy-building quest during his second term in office, the so-called “Arc de Trump” would stand 250ft tall, feature a 60ft golden Lady Liberty, and include a viewing deck. The phrase “One Nation Under God” would stretch across the top of the structure, according to the latest plans from Harrison Design.
The mock-up was submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), who are next due to meet on 16 April to consider the proposal.
Trump dismissed all six commissioners last year and replaced them with loyalists. The panel is one of two bodies responsible for signing off on his proposed White House ballroom. Although the CFA approved that project in February, a federal judge halted construction weeks later. The president, however, had already demolished the historic East Wing to make room for it.
The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), which is chaired by one of Trump’s former lawyers, also greenlit the building project days later, but the status of the work remains in limbo following the district court ruling.
The administration believes the arch will be “one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington DC, but throughout the world”, said Davis Ingle, a White House spokesperson, in a statement.
He added that the positioning of the arch, near Arlington National Cemetery would serve as “a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250-year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today”.
A White House official also told the Guardian that the estimated cost of the triumphal arch was “still being calculated” and would be shared in the near future. The White House anticipates “some combination of public and private funds” to be used to pay for the project, according to the official.
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